Nikolai Ilyin
| |
|---|---|
 | |
| Native name |
Николай Яковлевич Ильин
|
| Born | 25 June 1922 Chernukhino, Ukrainian SSR (located in present-day Perevalsk Raion, Luhansk Oblast) |
| Died | 4 August 1943 Yastrebovo, Kursk Oblast, RSFSR, USSR |
| Cause of death | Machine Gun Burst |
| Buried |
Mamayev Kurgan
|
| Allegiance |  Soviet Union |
| Service/ | Red Army |
| Years of service | 1942—1943 |
| Rank | Starshina |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Hero of the Soviet Union |
Nikolai Yakovlevich Ilyin (Russian: Николай Яковлевич Ильин; 25 June 1922 — 4 August 1943) was one of the top Soviet snipers of World War II. Awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union on 8 February 1943 for his first 216 kills, by the time he was killed in action later that year his tally reached 494.[1]
Ilyin was born to a Russian family in Chornukhyne village on 25 June 1922. After graduating from secondary school, he worked as a mechanic at the Debaltsevo-Sortirovochny depot in Donbass.[2] [3]
He entered the Red Army in 1941 soon after the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union, and started off as a machine gunner before mastering his sniper skills. He fought in the intense battle of Stalingrad, and became a deputy political commissar in the 50th Guards Rifle Regiment.[4] He showed himself to be a skilled sniper, killing 95 Nazis during eleven days of battle.[5] He was awarded his first military award, the Order of the Red Banner on 29 September 1942,[6] and on 8 February 1943 he was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union for killing a total of 216 Nazis, including 95 that he killed in the course of eleven days.[5][7] For his work as a sniper he was awarded a personalized sniper rifle named after Hero of the Soviet Union Khusen Andrukhaev.[8]
On 4 August 1943, Ilyin was killed by a machine gun burst near the City of Yastrebovo, outside Belgorod.[9] He finished with a tally of 494,[a] making him one of the best snipers of World War II.[11] His personal sniper rifle was given to sniper Afanasy Gordienko.[12] He was buried in Nikolskoye in present day Belgorodsky District, Belgorod Oblast.[8]
